Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP - The Firearms Forum

rocklinskier · 06-14-2010, 08:43 AM

Any suggestions? I have on hand several 230g HP that I have ran thru my full size, but just picked up a 1911 style 3" barrel conceal weapon. Grabbed a box of Horndady 185 FTX Critical Defense rounds. These seem to have a wax or plastic filled tip. Should help with feeding I suppose. Hoping to break the pistol in today. So for those of you who have done your homework, both mathmatically and practically, which ammo have you chose for your short barrel 45's.

I plan on doing my own testing of course, but it's good to hear if some things just plain don't work, or work exceptionally.

RS

oscarmayer · 06-14-2010, 09:42 AM

corbon 165 gr hp. has shown great results from shot barrelled 45's

carver · 06-14-2010, 11:01 AM

Hornady Critical Defence! It is what I carry. http://www.hornady.com/store/Critical-Defense-newammo
Watch the video!

Terry_P · 06-14-2010, 11:08 AM

Whatever is most accurate and reliable in your 45. The 45 acp will do the job with just about anything.

sorral · 06-14-2010, 11:31 AM

try Extreme Shock. That is what I carry.

rocklinskier · 06-14-2010, 11:56 AM

Thanks guys. Sounds like I'm off to a good start with the Hornady 185 FTX. I will look into the Corbon and Extreme Shok as well.

AngelDeville · 06-14-2010, 03:14 PM

I still shoot 230 Hydrashocks out of my 3.5" OM, never had a hicccup.

Why shoot a .45 if you are going to handicap it with lighter bullets?

rocklinskier · 06-14-2010, 06:59 PM

A valid point for the light vs. heavy handicap, it's just that (correct me if Im wrong) ballistics change when comparing a 5" tube to a 3" one. Some heavy bullets, already having a lower velocity, have trouble with good penetration/expantion when expelled from a shorty.

Again, I'm only regurgitating what I've read, thus my question, and my interest in various ammunition. Then of course, there is the comparison of what feeds well.

I know for instance that Speer/GD developed a special load in .40 specifically for guns with less than 4" barrels. It uses the same 180 projectile, but with different powder that makes it perform better than it's long barrel counterpart in the short gun.

oscarmayer · 06-15-2010, 04:12 AM

a 45 is not handicapped with lighter bullets, but using a 3.5 inch barrel handicaps the 230 gr hydrashocks. yes they feed wel lone of the best feeding hollow points out there, given the o-give of the bullet. but it's all about muzzle energy . compare the numbers . a 230 gr bullet from a 3.5 inch tube will produce less pounds of energy than a 180 gr or a 165 gr. energy and feet per second translate to penetration depths penetration depths translate to stopping power

SigP250 · 06-17-2010, 02:22 PM

Just a quick look back at the Ammo development for the 45 ACP.
The Military started with a 200 grain bullet & settled for a 230 grain bullet
I believe any 230gr round that will feed 100 percent with get the job done.
A jam can cost you more than you may want to pay.

mesinge2 · 06-17-2010, 05:47 PM

I use Corbon Pow'r Ball ammo in my Colt Defender because of the 3" barrel. The polymer ball pushes the hollow point open under the reduced velocity achieved from the abreviated barrel.

I figure it has a 9mm velocity, a .40 S&W bullet weight, and a .45 ACP diameter. What's the down side?

Name: .45 ACP+P 165 gr Glasser Pow'r Ball in Gelatin.jpg
Views: 3144
Size: 28.7 KB

Name: .45 ACP+P 165 gr Glasser Pow'r Ball in Gelatin.jpg
Views: 3144
Size: 28.7 KB

Firearm was semi-automatic action with 3.8" barrel length

Shot 1 - Penetrated to 10.9". Average recovered diameter 0.659".

Shot 2 - Penetrated to 12.6". Average recovered diameter 0.687".

Shot 3 - Penetrated to 11.8". Average recovered diameter 0.698".

Shot 4 - Penetrated to 12.2". Average recovered diameter 0.668".

Shot 5 - Penetrated to 11.4". Average recovered diameter 0.684".

Average diameter = 0.679". Average penetration depth = 11.8"

gelatin test data from http://www.brassfetcher.com/.45ACP%2...;r%20Ball.html

rocklinskier · 06-18-2010, 07:16 AM

The corbon pwrball and the Hornady look like they have very similar design. Basically a semi solid filler in the HP to help with expansion. The old timers used to fill their Hp bullets with wax. (so I've heard)

Did a brief run in with the new sidearm yesterday. Several rounds of ball and LSWC's, one mag of Winchester 230 HP's and a mag of Hornady's. Suprised at how managable they were in the litte gun. The most accurate of the ammo that I shot including the FMJ 230 rounds was the Hornady's. I suspect the Corbons will perform very close to the same. Perhaps next week will muster up some cash for a box to try.

Very pleased with the new gun so far. Will try a couple of diff. rounds but so far, the Hornady 185 is making me

.

michael t · 07-02-2010, 11:24 PM

I use Corbon 185 DPX+P in my Defender and New Agent. These have feed reliable and and have never been a problem in either pistol.

06-14-2010, 08:43 AM	#1
rocklinskier V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 295	Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP Any suggestions? I have on hand several 230g HP that I have ran thru my full size, but just picked up a 1911 style 3" barrel conceal weapon. Grabbed a box of Horndady 185 FTX Critical Defense rounds. These seem to have a wax or plastic filled tip. Should help with feeding I suppose. Hoping to break the pistol in today. So for those of you who have done your homework, both mathmatically and practically, which ammo have you chose for your short barrel 45's. I plan on doing my own testing of course, but it's good to hear if some things just plain don't work, or work exceptionally. RS __________________ Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free ~Ronald Reagan. -->

06-14-2010, 09:42 AM	#2
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	Re: Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP corbon 165 gr hp. has shown great results from shot barrelled 45's

06-14-2010, 11:01 AM	#3
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,288	Re: Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP Hornady Critical Defence! It is what I carry. http://www.hornady.com/store/Critical-Defense-newammo Watch the video! __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

06-14-2010, 11:08 AM	#4
Terry_P Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NH Posts: 2,513	Re: Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP Whatever is most accurate and reliable in your 45. The 45 acp will do the job with just about anything. __________________ NRA and NAHC Life "Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms." -Aristotle

06-14-2010, 11:31 AM	#5
sorral V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 153	Re: Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP try Extreme Shock. That is what I carry. __________________ "Guns don't kill people, husbands that come home early do"- Larry the Cable Guy 100% Infidel and lovin it!

06-14-2010, 11:56 AM	#6
rocklinskier V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 295	Re: Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP Thanks guys. Sounds like I'm off to a good start with the Hornady 185 FTX. I will look into the Corbon and Extreme Shok as well. __________________ Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free ~Ronald Reagan.

06-14-2010, 03:14 PM	#7
AngelDeville Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ABQ Posts: 644	Re: Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP I still shoot 230 Hydrashocks out of my 3.5" OM, never had a hicccup. Why shoot a .45 if you are going to handicap it with lighter bullets? __________________ Why don't guns go off "accidentally" when people aren't around?

06-14-2010, 06:59 PM	#8
rocklinskier V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 295	Re: Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP A valid point for the light vs. heavy handicap, it's just that (correct me if Im wrong) ballistics change when comparing a 5" tube to a 3" one. Some heavy bullets, already having a lower velocity, have trouble with good penetration/expantion when expelled from a shorty. Again, I'm only regurgitating what I've read, thus my question, and my interest in various ammunition. Then of course, there is the comparison of what feeds well. I know for instance that Speer/GD developed a special load in .40 specifically for guns with less than 4" barrels. It uses the same 180 projectile, but with different powder that makes it perform better than it's long barrel counterpart in the short gun. __________________ Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free ~Ronald Reagan.

06-15-2010, 04:12 AM	#9
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	Re: Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP a 45 is not handicapped with lighter bullets, but using a 3.5 inch barrel handicaps the 230 gr hydrashocks. yes they feed wel lone of the best feeding hollow points out there, given the o-give of the bullet. but it's all about muzzle energy . compare the numbers . a 230 gr bullet from a 3.5 inch tube will produce less pounds of energy than a 180 gr or a 165 gr. energy and feet per second translate to penetration depths penetration depths translate to stopping power

06-17-2010, 02:22 PM	#10
SigP250 Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 17	Re: Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP Just a quick look back at the Ammo development for the 45 ACP. The Military started with a 200 grain bullet & settled for a 230 grain bullet I believe any 230gr round that will feed 100 percent with get the job done. A jam can cost you more than you may want to pay.

06-17-2010, 05:47 PM	#11
mesinge2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 538	Re: Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP I use Corbon Pow'r Ball ammo in my Colt Defender because of the 3" barrel. The polymer ball pushes the hollow point open under the reduced velocity achieved from the abreviated barrel. I figure it has a 9mm velocity, a .40 S&W bullet weight, and a .45 ACP diameter. What's the down side? Firearm was semi-automatic action with 3.8" barrel length Shot 1 - Penetrated to 10.9". Average recovered diameter 0.659". Shot 2 - Penetrated to 12.6". Average recovered diameter 0.687". Shot 3 - Penetrated to 11.8". Average recovered diameter 0.698". Shot 4 - Penetrated to 12.2". Average recovered diameter 0.668". Shot 5 - Penetrated to 11.4". Average recovered diameter 0.684". Average diameter = 0.679". Average penetration depth = 11.8" gelatin test data from http://www.brassfetcher.com/.45ACP%2...;r%20Ball.html __________________ NRA Certified Instructor "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise. I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind ... Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." 1785, Thomas Jefferson.

06-18-2010, 07:16 AM	#12
rocklinskier V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 295	Re: Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP The corbon pwrball and the Hornady look like they have very similar design. Basically a semi solid filler in the HP to help with expansion. The old timers used to fill their Hp bullets with wax. (so I've heard) Did a brief run in with the new sidearm yesterday. Several rounds of ball and LSWC's, one mag of Winchester 230 HP's and a mag of Hornady's. Suprised at how managable they were in the litte gun. The most accurate of the ammo that I shot including the FMJ 230 rounds was the Hornady's. I suspect the Corbons will perform very close to the same. Perhaps next week will muster up some cash for a box to try. Very pleased with the new gun so far. Will try a couple of diff. rounds but so far, the Hornady 185 is making me . __________________ Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free ~Ronald Reagan.

07-02-2010, 11:24 PM	#13
michael t Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: outback ky Posts: 17	Re: Best SD ammo for 3" 45ACP I use Corbon 185 DPX+P in my Defender and New Agent. These have feed reliable and and have never been a problem in either pistol. __________________ WWJBD What Would James Bond Do